Category Archives: Bible

Advice, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Commands, Disciplemaking, Faith, Fatherhood, Love, Mentoring, Modeling, Motherhood, Obedience, Parenting, Passion, Scripture

RELATIONSHIPS

2 TIMOTHY 1:2 

“To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

This verse is almost the same words as 1 Timothy 1:2. He changes his description of Timothy slightly from “my true child in the faith” to “my beloved son.” I think I like this one better. There is just something about calling someone beloved that speaks of intimacy. 

There is no doubt Paul loved Timothy. He doesn’t call any of his other companions “beloved.” Timothy was special to him. He had invested years in his life to prepare him to lead. Even today when men mentor other men, it is often referred to as a Paul/Timothy relationship.  

APPLICATION 

As parents, we have the responsibility to see our children as a Timothy. We have approximately 18-20 years to prepare our children to face life. There is no better preparation than turning them into disciplemakers. If our children grow with the passion of Matthew 28:19-20 (look it up), they will have an entirely different worldview than the rest of the world. 

It is all about relationships. It begins with ours with the Lord. Then it goes to our family (spouse, children, grandchildren). As we invest our energy in the next generation, they learn to do the same. Will they always do that? No. Everyone has their free will and can choose to accept or deny. Our job is to try. 

In whom are you investing today? Do you have a Timothy? Are you being a Paul? Don’t let your faith experiences go left unshared. Don’t ignore that plea from another believer who wants to be mentored and taught how to face life challenges. Who knows, you may have a part in discipling the next great voice of the kingdom. 

I want to share my faith with others in order to help them walk with You. Show me those around me who need a Paul. Give me the courage to approach them and invite them into a disciplemaking relationship. 

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Advice, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Encouragement, Modeling, Obedience, Parenting, Promises

PROMISES, PROMISES

2 TIMOTHY 1:1 

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,” 

It is so easy to make promises, isn’t it? You say it sometimes before you actually think about. Maybe you are in the grocery checkout line and your little two-year-old is pitching a fit for one of those candy bars they place right at the cash register. So, before you know it you say, “Okay, if you will get quiet, I will get you the candy.” Promise made. 

That is NOT the kind of promise Paul is referring to here. Just about every time the word is used in the Bible it refers to God’s promises, which we know He will always keep. And almost every use of the word in the New Testament points back to an Old Testament, even this one. Our promise of life is found only in Jesus, whom we know was prophesied about through the Old Testament. 

APPLICATION 

 Do your children make promises they can’t keep? Little children tend to do that to get something they want. “Daddy, let me stay up and watch tv later tonight and I will clean my room tomorrow.” You know good and well that is not going to happen, lol. 

Promises are good, if they are the right one. A promise of purity is a beautiful thing. A promise to be faithful to our spouse is holy. A promise to… You get the picture. But promises should be made sparingly and thoughtfully. God’s promises are the ONLY promises that are a sure thing. Our children need to understand that. Others may break their promises, but God cannot and will not because He is perfect and holy. 

Are you a promise keeper? Do you make rash promises and then forget them? Stop it! The next time you begin a sentence with “I promise” stop and ask yourself what you are promising and if you have the ability to keep it. If not, don’t say it. God will be more honored by you not making that promise than making it and breaking it. 

Father, only You are the true promise keeper. I know I can trust You to fulfill every promise You have ever made. You are faithful.    

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Advice, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Commands, Mentoring, Modeling, Obedience, Parenting, Scripture

GUARD IT WELL

1 TIMOTHY 6:20 

“O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—” 

Have you ever been given anything to hold for someone else? They may have even said, “Don’t let anything happen to this, please.” Well, the Greek word for “what has been entrusted” means just that. We are to protect and guard the truths we have been taught by the Lord.  

But, what does that mean? Why do we have to guard it? Listen, Satan wants us to get distracted with “worldly and empty chatter.” He can’t remove the truths we have been given, but he can sure can try to get our minds on useless stuff.  

APPLICATION 

Try this with your children. Wrap up a Bible in a box and give it to them to hold for you. Don’t tell them what it is. Tell them how precious it is to you and you are depending on them to keep it safe. After a few days, ask them if they still have it. Remind them how special this is to you. 

In about a week ask them for the package and open it. I bet they will be surprised at what was in the box. Explain to them just how precious God’s Word is to you. Read today’s verse to them and let them know this is what Paul was talking about. His truths are to be kept safe and guarded in their hearts. Only that will lead them safely through life. 

What do you hold precious? So many of us prioritize the wrong things. We put family keepsakes on the same level as God’s Word. We need to spend much more time putting His Word in our hearts and minds, so it will be safe for a lifetime. 

Thank You, Lord, for giving me Your precious Word to guard and protect. I will do that while at the same time sharing it with others.

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Affection, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Contentment, Encouragement, Gifts, Obedience, Parenting, Praise, Scripture, Thanksgiving

MY SUPPLIER

1 TIMOTHY 6:17

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”

God is our only real and trusted source for everything. I love the way Paul wrote this to Timothy. He says God is the one “who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” The word “supplies” does not mean that God just gives us stuff. No! It means He gives or offers in a up close and personal way.

And the Lord gives it for us “to enjoy.” Wow! We are actually supposed to enjoy what He blesses us with. Do you enjoy God’s blessings? Do you feel guilty for what He has given you? Don’t! We are supposed to appreciate and enjoy them. Do you see this clearly? God wants us to be blessed and enjoy everything He carefully and personally gives us.

APPLICATION

Don’t you just love giving your children things? The next time you have the occasion to bless your children with a special gift (birthday, Christmas, special achievement), read them this verse. Talk about how you picked out this gift especially for them. Since you know them so well, you knew they would love this gift. You knew they would enjoy this gift.

Ask them how they would have felt if you had given them something that they didn’t like. What if you had given your son, who loves baseball, a hockey stick? What if you had given your daughter, who loves to cook, a set of barbells? Just like you know their desires, God knows them as well. He provides richly all things for them to enjoy. Don’t let them forget that.

Are you aware of just how much the Lord enjoys blessing you? Remember, each gift He gives has been hand-picked by Him especially for you. He knows the perfect gift for you. He knows just exactly what will meet your needs. Accept it and enjoy it.

You are the supplier of all my needs, Lord. I praise You that You know my deepest desires and needs. I will continually thank You.

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Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Christ's Return, Encouragement, Glory, Heaven, Light, Parenting

DON’T GO THERE

1 TIMOTHY 6:16

“who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”

Unapproachable! Don’t even think about going there! The brilliance of our Lord will be blinding, yet we shall one day behold Him. This Greek word for “unapproachable” is only used right here in this verse. It literally means don’t go. Why? Why would the Lord dwell in unapproachable light? Why would He want to keep us away?

Because as mortal men, we cannot bear the glory of God. His holiness would instantly wipe us away. So, we are being protected. He is not trying to keep us away. He is trying to keep us safe. We will be bathed in the light. We just can’t go into it. We are not worthy. Only He can dwell in it.

APPLICATION

Do you have things in your home that are off limits? I bet you do. How about the fuse box? The power source for your house is in there. Your children can benefit from the power source, but they cannot approach the source itself. That’s a pretty close analogy for kids. 

There have to be boundaries for kids. There will be a day when they can have access to any area of the house. The limitations now are not meant to punish them. They are meant to protect them. As they mature, they will gain more and more access. In the same way, as we mature in our walk with Christ, He reveals more and more of Himself to us.

Are you ready for the unapproachable light? Boy, I am. I can’t wait to see Him. His glory will be amazing. But guess what? It is now. Don’t wait until eternity to be blown away. Let His brilliance amaze you.

O God of glory, Your light is ablaze. Let it shine through me so others can see You. One day I will dwell in Your light forever.

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Advice, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Commands, Confession, Forgiveness, Obedience, Parenting, Purity, Righteousness, Scripture

CLEAN AS A WHISTLE

1 TIMOTHY 6:14

“that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 

Do you ever wonder about how words or expressions come about? I do. I guess I am just curious that way. Today’s title for the devotional is “Clean as a whistle.” What does that really mean? There are several theories, but the one I like is it comes from the appearance of a whittled piece of wood, probably willow, after it is made into a whistle. A smooth, spotless surface was left.

Well, the word in our verse today for “without stain” means just that – spotless, clean as a whistle. Paul is adjuring Timothy that we need to live that way. We should remain unstained by the world, as James says. It is so easy to get the world on you. It can leave some hard to remove spots. But if we are living for Christ and following His commandments, we are less likely to get “dirty.”

APPLICATION

I bet your children have gotten clothes stained before. Am I right? My mama used to get so upset when I came home with grass-stained pants. But what is a boy supposed to do when he slides into home plate? You can’t exactly ask the catcher to let you walk in so you won’t get your pants dirty. Sometimes stains are inevitable.

However, we need to teach our children to avoid those staining agents when possible. We know how the world wants to dirty us up. We have the responsibility to point out those things to our children. They have to live in the world, but they don’t have to wallow in its filth. It is comforting to know that Jesus’ blood cleanses us completely. But it is also important to remember that some stains are the consequence of disobedience and can remain for a lifetime.

Are you tired of removing stains in your life? Then start following Jesus’ commandments more closely. He will lead you in the path of righteousness. He also may lead you into a very dirty area in order to reach others. Those stains are not held against you and are easily removed. It’s your choice – dirty or clean?

I am so thankful that I don’t need bleach to cleanse my soul. I am so glad that Jesus’s blood washes me white as snow. Help me walk in such a way that only stains You allow touch me.

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Advice, Bible, Bosses, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Commands, Direction, God's Will, Mentoring, Obedience, Parenting, Perseverance, Scripture

YOU ARE CHARGED

1 TIMOTHY 6:13

“I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,” 

Unfortunately, when we hear the word “charge” we automatically think about a financial transaction. Paul had no concept of Mastercard or Visa, lol. This word “charge” had an entirely different meaning. This Greek word means “to charge, give a command that is fully authorized because it has gone through all the proper (necessary) channels.” It also originally carried a military meaning as when an officer would give a command to an inferior. 

You are charged by God to carry out the duties in His army. God expects us to comply. Now, He won’t make us. He never will. But obedience is expected. Where do we find these “charges”? In His Word. It is full of commands from the Father. All we have to do is read His Word and then follow His commands. Easy peasy, right? I wish.

APPLICATION

Have you ever given your children a command to clean their room or brush their teeth? I am sure you have. No child I know naturally does that without being told. And I bet you had to show them how to do it, right? I remember teaching our children how to brush their teeth. I remember teaching them how to pick up their toys and make their bed. Commands are great, but if we don’t know how to carry it out, it’s useless.

Jesus showed us how to obey our Father. Point your children to Him. He will show them how to obey you and God. His examples of obedience all through His life show us it is possible. Of course, we aren’t Jesus. We will make mistakes. That’s okay. God simply wants us to strive toward perfection. He is the perfecter, not us. 

Are you obeying the commands given to you by the Lord? Maybe you are more like me and try to find ways around it, lol.  Resolve yourself today to be an obedient soldier of the cross. When the Lord charges you with a new task, gratefully take it on and fulfill His desires for your life. You won’t be sorry.

Lord, I want to obey. Sometimes my flesh gets in the way, but I know that is just an excuse. Forgive my disobedience.

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Advice, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Commands, Direction, Disciplemaking, Faith, Gentleness, Godliness, Love, Mentoring, Modeling, Obedience, Parenting, Perseverance, Righteousness

CHASE THIS!

1 TIMOTHY 6:11

“But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”

You need to read verses 3 though 11 of this chapter in 1 Timothy to remind yourself what Paul is telling Timothy to flee. That word “flee” means to escape or to run away. In other words, run as hard as you can away from this stuff. In contrast, Paul tells Timothy to chase as hard as he can “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”

You see, running is okay as long as you are running from or running towards the right thing. Of course, we know if you pursue the Lord will all your heart, you will find “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” How? Because He is all those things.

APPLICATION

Do you want to teach your children to chase after the right stuff? Of course, you do. Why not show them what to chase yourself? If you are seeking righteousness, they will see it in you. If you are striving to be godly in your behaviors, they will imitate you. If your faith is tested and you rely on the Lord, your children will remember that.

Are you getting the picture here? These pursuits are best taught to your children by you modeling these to them. These are not things you can tell them to do and then not do yourself. In fact, words are not even necessary. Just pursue them yourself time after time. They will see it and learn. When they ask you why you are doing what you are doing, then you have the perfect opportunity to tell them.

What are you running from and towards? Make sure you are chasing after God. Only He can provide “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” There is no other source. Do you want to be more Christlike? Then run!

I want to be seen as righteous, godly, faithful, loving, persevering and gentle. I know all these are in You, Lord. Help me pursue them with all my strength.

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Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Encouragement, Love, Mentoring, Money, Parenting

MISQUOTED

1 TIMOTHY 6:10

“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

While John 3:16 is probably the most quoted verse in the Bible, this verse today is probably the most MISquoted verse. People leave off “the love of” and talk about how evil money is. What you can’t tell from the English translation is “the love of money” is one Greek word which means lover of silver. It’s someone who is literally in love with personal gain or having money. How sad?

Have you ever known anyone who was like that? All they think about is making more money. Again, money is not the evil thing. Their motive for making money is. They don’t want more so they can share more. They want more so they can keep it all to themselves. God can use our wealth in a myriad of ways to further His kingdom if we let loose of it.

APPLICATION

Read this verse to your children and ask them what they think it means. Then make a list with them of the things they could do with money to help others. Most children are quick to do that. They haven’t become as selfish as adults yet. But help them make that list.

Now, as much as possible, do some of those things. How about sponsoring a child through some ministry? So many children around the world are not able to eat or go to school without some sponsor supporting them. Here is just one opportunity you can look into (https://amginternational.org/product-category/sponsor-a-child/).

Evaluate your view of money today. Is it your pursuit or just a means by which you live? Does it consume your thoughts all day or is just a passing thought? Focus on what you can do for Jesus through what He has blessed you with. It will change your attitude and mission in life.

You have blessed me so richly, Lord. Show me where to give. Show me how to give. I want only to please You.

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Advice, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Commands, Money, Parenting, Scripture

A BAD FALL

1 TIMOTHY 6:9

“But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.” 

Let me say up front that there is nothing wrong with money. We have to have it to buy food, pay our mortgage or rent and live in this world. What you can’t tell from the English translation is the phrase “want to get” is written to imply that it is their decision to do this. No one is forcing them. This Greek word means to aggressively plan to get something. In other words, those who do this think about nothing but getting more.

But look at the result. It is not a good one. They fall into temptation. They are caught as if in a snare. And they pursue foolish and harmful desires. All this leads to ruin and destruction. Do you think those who pursue wealth like that ever think it will end badly? Not hardly.

APPLICATION

Teaching your little Johnny or Susie about money is so important. They need to understand the value of earning a dollar, but they also need to know how to handle the money once they get it. Some kids blow through money fast. They constantly beg to go to Walmart to spend it. Other kids save every penny. There is a balance.

Sit your children down when you think they can handle it and help them make a plan for their money. Don’t forget to talk about giving to the Lord. Most importantly, talk to them about how you manage the household finances. Read them this verse and explain how money can corrupt you if you only focus on it. They will learn best by watching you, so make sure you aren’t living for wealth.

Are you? Are you striving to “get ahead” so hard that you have lost your priorities? Again, money isn’t bad. Our motives about money can be. Ask the Lord to guide you in your spending. Ask the Lord to guide you in your savings. The Lord may choose to bless you financially, or He may not. Trust Him to provide. He always does.

I am so thankful for all You have blessed me with. You have proven once again to be caring and loving. Help me manage Your resources wisely.

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